سُوْرَةُ الزُّمَرِ
Surah Az-Zumar (39) — Ayah 12
وَأُمِرْتُ لِأَنْ أَكُونَ أَوَّلَ ٱلْمُسْلِمِينَ ﴿12﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
"And I am commanded (this) in order that I may be the first of those who submit themselves to Allâh (in Islâm) as Muslims."
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
وَأُمِرْتُ
wa-umir'tu
And I am commanded
لِأَنْ
li-an
that
أَكُونَ
akūna
I be
أَوَّلَ
awwala
(the) first
ٱلْمُسْلِمِينَ
l-mus'limīna
(of) those who submit
Tafsir al-Quran al-Karim — Hafiz Abdus Salam Bin Muhammad Bhutvi
Tafsir al-Quran al-Karim is a 4-volume Quran commentary by Hafiz Abdus Salam bin Muhammad Bhutvi, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar and Sheikh ul-Hadith from Pakistan. Based on over 45 years of teaching and research, this tafsir follows the methodology of Tafsir bil-Ma'thur — interpreting the Quran through authentic Hadith, statements of the Companions, and the understanding of the early generations (Salaf). It is distinguished by its complete avoidance of Israeliyyat (Judeo-Christian narratives) and unverified reports. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.
(Ayah 12) ➊ In { وَ اُمِرْتُ لِاَنْ اَكُوْنَ اَوَّلَ الْمُسْلِمِيْنَ : ’’ لِاَنْ اَكُوْنَ ‘‘}, the "lam" is in the meaning of "ba": {’’أَيْ أُمِرْتُ بِأَنْ أَكُوْنَ أَوَّلَ الْمُسْلِمِيْنَ‘‘} That is, as a messenger conveying Allah's message, my duty is not only to deliver His message, but I am commanded to be the very first among those who obey Him. I should not be like those tyrant kings who command people to do many things, but do not do those things themselves; rather, whatever commands of Allah I convey to you, I myself act upon them first.
➋ In { ’’ لِاَنْ اَكُوْنَ ‘‘}, the "lam" can also be for stating the reason; in that case, the translation of both verses will be as follows: Say, I have been commanded to worship Allah, being sincere to Him in religion, and I have been commanded this so that I may be the very first among all Muslims (because advancement in religion is achieved only through sincerity). The commentator Abu al-Su'ud said: {’’وَ أُمِرْتُ بِذٰلِكَ لِأَجَلِ أَنْ أَكُوْنَ مُقَدِّمَهُمْ فِي الدُّنْيَا وَالْآخِرَةِ لِأَنَّ إِحْرَازَ قَصَبِ السَّبْقِ فِي الدِّيْنِ بِالْإِخْلَاصِ فِيْهِ ‘‘}
➋ In { ’’ لِاَنْ اَكُوْنَ ‘‘}, the "lam" can also be for stating the reason; in that case, the translation of both verses will be as follows: Say, I have been commanded to worship Allah, being sincere to Him in religion, and I have been commanded this so that I may be the very first among all Muslims (because advancement in religion is achieved only through sincerity). The commentator Abu al-Su'ud said: {’’وَ أُمِرْتُ بِذٰلِكَ لِأَجَلِ أَنْ أَكُوْنَ مُقَدِّمَهُمْ فِي الدُّنْيَا وَالْآخِرَةِ لِأَنَّ إِحْرَازَ قَصَبِ السَّبْقِ فِي الدِّيْنِ بِالْإِخْلَاصِ فِيْهِ ‘‘}
